The CFO Show

Picture a football game: the quarterback drops back to scan the field, reads the defense, and fires a pass to an open receiver. Touchdown! Now picture a CFO: the quarterback of a finance team, reading the economic landscape, assessing risks, and making smart, decisive moves that score major wins for their organization.The parallels between finance and football run deep. Both professions involve teamwork, competition, practice, adaptability, and pressure. To unpack the similarities, Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller welcome Dan Crumb, CFO of the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, to the show. As Dan explains, football and finance might be different, but success in both requires the same ingredients.Discussed in This Episode:How finance and football approach team-buildingThe equivalent of winning a Super Bowl in financeWhat we can learn from coaches about rallying our teamsKeys to effective communication and teamworkWhy both types of teams must plan for every scenarioFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.Resources:How To Use Financial Reporting To Reduce Your Operational Costs, Add Efficiencies, and Align Your Business5 Ways To Adapt Your Financial and Operational Planning for Today's Volatile Business Environment

Businesses today spend an average of 52% of their budget on their workforce. Some go as high as 70%. The expense is worth it, of course, as the only way to true financial success is by having the right talent. But given this enormous cost, it’s worth asking: are the people metrics you’re tracking the ones that will make the biggest impact on your business? Or are you missing out on the full potential of your workforce?To help us understand the people metrics that matter, Melissa Howatson welcomes RJ Milnor to the show. RJ is the Founder and CEO of People Analytics Partners and was formerly the Global Head of People Analytics at Uber. Through his research and experience, RJ has uncovered some remarkable insights and truths about the way we work, how it’s evolved post-pandemic, and what the future of work looks like.Discussed in This Episode:The surest indicator of high-value employeesWhat to analyze to see how your M&A integration is goingA viable replacement for productivity-killing meetingsHow to get the greatest ROI out of office spacesOne word of advice for leaders to be more effectiveFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

As each year draws to a close, CFOs are gearing up for one of the most critical tasks in their financial calendar: the year-end financial close. There are key areas to focus on and best practices to ensure this process goes smoothly… but what happens when it doesn’t? More importantly, what is it that trips finance teams up at the last minute?To explore the ins and outs of year-end close, hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller sit down with Benno van Ingen, Lead Consultant CFO Tech, Finext. Benno has served in various financial roles over the past 20 years, giving him extensive experience with corporate financial processes and firsthand insight into how things can go awry.Discussed in This Episode:How an organization is hampered by a lackluster year-end closeThe specific pitfalls that finance teams want to avoidWays to mitigate the time crunch associated with this processLegacy tools and systems that can prevent a successful closeEpisode Resources:7 Ways To Conquer Your Year-End Close NightmaresThe Ultimate Guide to Financial CloseFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Agility and efficiency are more important than ever for finance teams, which places an outsized importance on the quality of an organization’s tech stack. A good finance tech stack can help you automate tasks, improve visibility into your data, and make better decisions.But with a plethora of options out there, building and implementing the right tech stack for your organization can be difficult. To help you know what to expect at every step of this journey, Melissa Howatson welcomes William Liang, Managing Director at ProLytics Consulting Group, to the show. Over the past 13 years, William has provided world-class planning and forecasting services solutions in a wide variety of industries, including financial services.Join us as we discuss:Sorting through a crowded fintech space to find the right optionWho to engage with to make tech decisions for your organizationMistakes that can hinder digital transformation effortsPersonnel requirements to ensure a smooth implementationHow decision-makers should think about integrating their systemsAdditional resources:How To Build a Finance Tech Stack That Works for You: https://bit.ly/3PuS4FF

In today’s business landscape, the relationship between the CFO, CEO, and Board of Directors is a pivotal axis that can either drive an organization to new heights or lead it astray. To better understand the intricacies of this relationship, Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller enlist the help of someone with a unique point of view: Kim Eaton, Operating Managing Director at Vista Equity Partners. Kim has served as both a CEO and a board member, giving her unique insights into what causes this relationship to flourish (and what makes it fall apart).Join us as we discuss:How CFOs can help build a shared trust with their CEO and boardTips for managing a productive board meetingHandling disagreements in a way that preserves relationshipsThe importance of pre-meeting touch points (e.g. the board dinner)Traits of the most effective CFOs from the board’s perspectiveAdditional resources:Managing Your Relationship as the CFO With the CEO and Board of Directors: https://bit.ly/451EpM1

Every career path is unique. For many CFOs, though, their paths share a common destination: the CEO’s office. What does the journey from CFO to CEO look like?This transition requires more than mastering the balance sheets. Being a CEO demands a unique blend of strategic vision, leadership finesse, and a fearless appetite for risk. To give us a firsthand perspective of this shift, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Lincoln Greenidge, CEO of Sandfire Resources America Inc. Lincoln, who’s spent 35 years climbing the ranks of finance and FP&A across six industries, shares the opportunities and challenges that arose as part of his transition from CFO to CEO.Join us as we discuss:The new skills CFOs need to succeed as CEOUnforeseen challenges that new CEOs should watch out forHow leadership styles evolve in your new roleSpecific areas of development CFOs should focus onAdditional resources:How To Get on the Finance Leadership Track: 5 Pieces of Advice for Future CFOs: https://bit.ly/3Zygl287 Principles of the Agile Finance Leader | 0.5 CPE | Vena Academy: https://bit.ly/3rqyanh

2023 has been a year defined by uncertainty. This trend is a driving force behind the decision making of FP&A teams, as they aim to create more agile and dynamic operations in the face of constant change. But uncertainty is only one FP&A trend that’s shaped the past year.Howard Dresner, Founder and Chief Research Officer of Dresner Advisory Services, suggests there are five major FP&A trends that have defined 2023 and point to what lies ahead in 2024. In this episode, Howard dives into these trends with hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller.Join us as we discuss:How to achieve efficiency goals in the face of economic uncertainty The appropriate strategy for human capital investmentsESG reporting and planning taking on added significanceThe importance of rolling forecasts in a volatile geopolitical climateBeing dynamic enough to operate given supply chain challengesAdditional resources:The 8 FP&A Trends Making Waves in 2023: https://bit.ly/3RA4EGf

2023 was a roller coaster for finance professionals, and with a potential recession looming, the storms don’t look to calm down anytime soon. This means annual budget planning takes on an added importance as they look ahead to 2024.Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller discuss the issues that should be top of mind for CFOs and reinforce the importance of scenario planning. Harjot Ghai, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Delbridge Solutions, Inc., shares his best practices for planning ahead in uncertain times.Discussed in This Episode:Projections and expectations for the economy in 2024Actions that companies should take now to prepareHow leaders can create an environment of stability and trustWays to balance financial constraints with talent retentionEpisode Resources:The Ultimate Guide to Corporate BudgetingFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

There’s an underrated skill that seasoned CFOs have mastered: forging partnerships with other C-suites across the organization. One of the most vital partners for finance teams is the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Together, these teams can drive efficiency with technology, mitigate risks, and make strategic investments.To understand what a successful business partnership with the Office of CIO looks like, and what factors often get in the way, Melissa Howatson talks with Johan Dowdy, Global Head of IT and IT Security at Asana. Discussed in This Episode:How IT has evolved over the years to be more strategicThe value of listening before offering suggestions (not just prescribing)One of the most common pain points in the CFO-CIO partnershipConsidering ROI and long-term payback on all programmatic spendHow to achieve smoother operations and more accurate reportingEpisode Resources:How To Develop a Finance Business Partnering ModelTransforming Finance as a Strategic Business Partner | 0.5 CPE/CPD CourseFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the finance industry, empowering CFOs and finance teams to drive innovation and adapt to new market conditions with speed and efficiency. But for as widely discussed and debated as AI has been recently, best practices for adoption are hard to come by.To assist those looking to jumpstart their digital transformation efforts with AI, Melissa Howatson sits down to talk with Rob Drover, VP Business Solutions at CBIZ (formerly Marcum Technology, part of Marcum LLP Group). From his extensive firsthand knowledge, Rob shares how to leverage technology to streamline finance processes and boost strategic decision-making.Discussed in This Episode:What digital transformation really means (and what’s impeding its progress)Practical applications of AI to create more time for value-added tasksThe need for continuous improvement in addition to regular AI auditsEnsuring your AI model is approved by people who know your businessHow workers who invest in upskilling will stand outResources:The Definitive Guide to AI in FP&A: Benefits, Use Cases and Risks Explained: For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.